"More than half of America’s babies are children of color. We must embrace the changing portrait of our nation’s babies and commit to end the racism that infects not only them, but us all...As an organization we are committed to ensuring every baby has the opportunity to be valued and loved; to be taught to care for and be compassionate to others, regardless of their backgrounds. As an organization we support the clinicians, educators, care providers...all the professionals, who are on the frontlines of care. They are also on the frontline for social and economic justice. And we must support them in that cause as well.” — Matthew Melmed, Executive Director, ZERO TO THREE [Powers, S. (2021). This issue and why it matters. ZERO TO THREE Journal, 42(1), 2.]
We live in an increasingly diverse world, and the families and children that we serve can only benefit from a professional workforce that embodies and reflects this world. Ensuring that service providers are able to furnish the best outcomes possible requires an intentional effort to address inequities, biases and exclusionary practices as they are discovered.
This is particularly important in Alaska, where we not only enjoy a culturally diverse population, but where the evidence of historical trauma on multiple generations continues to ripple today. Sensitivity is critical, but so are intentional efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion into your practices.
The following links are intended to be useful tools that are laser-focused on helping you to be the best that you can every day:
From the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Pacific University, Oregon, the EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION GLOSSARY OF TERMS
From the Center of Excellence for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation at Georgetown University, the COE EQUITY TOOLKIT
From the Center for Child and Family Success at Arizona State University, the CHILDREN'S EQUITY PROJECT (CEP)
From Zero to Three, this important article by Ekaterina Zoubak, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE COMMUNITIES: CONSIDERATIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
From NAEYC’s Rocking and Rolling, this article offers this reflection: THE FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING BIAS IN INFANT AND TODDLER PROGRAMS
For a deep dive, check out this report on HOW RACISM CREATES MATERNAL AND CHILD MENTAL HEALTH EVEN BEFORE BIRTH from Zero to Three's ThinkBabies: The State of Babies Yearbook: 2021
The following resources provide information about choosing and using meaningful children's books to help support identity, equity and inclusion:
From Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, the importance of diverse books for young readers is eloquently encapsulated in this brief video. Learn more about Dr. Bishop's critical message: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
A list of recommended children's books addressing DEI from The Institute for Humane Education can be found in this blog post
This succinct resource from the RESilience Initiative looks at innovative ways to choose and use book to discuss race and ethnicity with young children
Bask in this award-winning short film version of the children's book, Hair Love
If you must choose only one link from this section, this might be the winner: We Need Diverse Books is a site rich with opportunities to discover children's books that support conversations on culture, identity and life.
According to the Irving Harris Foundation website, "Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion requires continual reflection, dialogue and intentional action."
You are encouraged to visit their website for more information on the Diversity-Informed Tenets, where you may download the Tenets in English and Spanish.
